Essential Fatty Acids - Americas Major Dietary Deficiency

America's major dietary deficiency - EFA a panacea for good health

Today you cannot so much turn a corner without seeing a sign on a fast food restaurant's window boasting the "Low Carb" menu. You cannot read a magazine without seeing an ad for "Adkins friendly" foods. Everyone it seems is preaching the Low Carb Diet. You are told what not to eat in a sentence. "Lower your carbohydrate intake" they say, but no one is emphasizing what you should eat. As there is no such thing as an essential carbohydrate for life, we humans can do just fine without bread, rice and potatoes. However, this food group does provide very cheap and quick fuel and has been used throughout history to nourish armies and feed the masses.

Proteins and fats are "essential" and without some in our diet, humans would perish. So I am going to focus on an important component of the diet, once you have cut your carbs down. The American (for that matter the modern) diet is deficient in fats. Yes, fats. The once blacklisted lambasted substance that dieticians had viewed as the single culprit for obesity is now being viewed as the panacea for good health. There is a nationwide fat intake deficiency. Not any fat mind you as the fast food industry is an ample supplier of the "wrong kinds of fats." I am speaking of the omega-3 fatty acids and since the 1850's dietary intake of these fatty acids has taken a nosedive. The omega-3 Fatty Acids (n-3FA) is a structure different from the n-6 and n-9 FA that we are more prone to find in our French fries and double cheeseburgers. Sources of n-3FA are from animal (fish) salmon, mackerel, tuna, and sardines, and from plant sources such as Flaxseed and Borage oil.

First and foremost, fatty acids are crucial in fetal development and early childhood development from neonates to adolescence. The brain is mostly comprised of fat and requires fatty acids. In particular docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) as building blocks. When someone calls you a fat-head, take it as a complement. The more dietary fat you take in the better chances you have of developing a health central and peripheral nervous system. Recently companies that manufacture infant formula have added lipids high in DHA, Enfamil LIPIL for example. Studies show that children exposed to higher concentrations of fatty acids in their diet tend to do better scholastically.

The health benefits of Omega Fatty Acids (n-FA) abound. Much research was gathered by studying the Inuit diet with a ratio of n-6:n-3 of 1:2.5 and other cultures (Okinawa, Japan for example) that consumed much of their dietary fat from fish in the 6:1 ratios. The Inuit (Eskimo) diet consisted almost exclusively of meat (there is very little space to grow "greens or grains" in the Arctic) and their meat source was overwhelmingly from the sea. Hence, their intake of rather high ratios of n-3 FA gave them near insusceptibility against cardiovascular disease. Since about the turn of the last century our ratios have changed drastically to that of about 20:1 and as a consequence we suffer a grave n-3 FA deficiency. This dietary state happens to be a pro-inflammatory condition. There are very strong scientifically proven connections between diets low in n-3 FA and higher incidences of a number of diseases. They include cardiovascular disease. Heart attacks and strokes are more common in people not consuming enough of this essential FA. There is even a connection with multiple sclerosis, schizophrenia and depression, and even osteoporosis. Research in the last few years has shown marked improvements in depression with high doses of EFA as the only treatment.

Since the link was made some years ago between inflammation and heart disease, it behooves one to do whatever to reduce the inflammation in our systems, beyond relying on a pill. As inflammation relates to many of the arthritises and degenerative diseases of our bodies, nutritionally minded doctors will often prescribe n-3 FA to their patients to help with the pain and progression of arthritis. There is obviously not enough room in this article to discuss specifics, but the take home message here is this. Of the near fifty know essential nutrients our body needs for survival, the one that has the highest daily requirement is the "essential fatty acids" and the consequences of suffering a deficiency has a major impact on the human body.

JP Saleeby, MD is Assistant Medical Director of LRMC-ED, and CEO of VSN a pharmaceutical grade dietary supplement company (http://www.vitasanus.com). Dr. Saleeby also practices integrative preventive medicine in a telemedicine forum, visit http://www.saleeby.net for more information. He can be reached for comment at jpsaleeby@aol.com.

---

Fish Oil Data-some new facts about Fish Oil

According to the renowned research scientist and inventor of the... Read More

Policosinol and Cholesterol Reduction

The word cholesterol has become synonymous with poor health. Indeed,... Read More

Prevent Constipation and Other Health Ailments with Papaya

Constipation is a condition whereby the fecal matter traveling through... Read More

The Sneak Attack of Trans- Fats

If you are like most people, you are probably confused... Read More

Autism and ADHD Linked to Child Vaccines

In a study review conducted by David A. Geier, B.A.... Read More

Functional Foods Are Becoming More Popular...

Established in 1989 by Stephen DeFelice, "Foundation for Innovation in... Read More

Fructose Short-Circuits Glycolysis

First some terminology.Fructose ... a five carbon sugar that occurs... Read More

16 Quick Tips for Eating at Restaurants or Work

Most of us eat at restaurants for a variety of... Read More

Must Have List Of Foods That Lower Cholesterol

Cholesterol is present in our bodies by one of two... Read More

Fasting & Enemas...For A Clean Body Detox

A hundred years ago, life was very different here on... Read More

Olive Oil -Not Just for Popeye

Archeological records indicate that man has cultivated the olive tree... Read More

How Food Affects Mood

Everyone can benefit from understanding how food affects our... Read More

Juice Sensibility

Apart from eating many of the wonderful vegetables and fruits... Read More

4 Important Facts You Should Know About Whey Protein

Are you concerned about taking care of your body before... Read More

Healing Power of 8 Sugars: An Amazing Breakthrough in Nutrition

"All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed.... Read More

Why People Get Sick

The body is a marvelous creation, a carbon, oxygen combustion... Read More

Food We Take Determines Our Character

When you take your food next time, take care of... Read More

Benefits of a Variety of Fruits and Vegetables

We know we need to eat a minimum of 5... Read More

Tips for Effective Muscle Building Diets

One of the biggest mistakes many new bodybuilders make is... Read More

Is Your Food Aging You?

Did you know that the food you eat could be... Read More

Understanding Cholesterol Levels and Decrease the Risk of Heart Attacks and Strokes

What is Cholesterol?Before we go into how to reduce your... Read More

Body Calling: Maintaining Excellent Health

Our bodies are truly incredible machines. What makes cells healthy?... Read More

Four Important Nutrients - Vitamin E, Selenium, Sodium and Potassium ? For Good Health

Vitamin EThere has been a lot of controversy about vitamin... Read More

Is Organic Really Better for You?

I had finally come to a place in my life... Read More

Buying Organic Produce: 6 Tips on How to Shop Wisely and Save Money

Some say they don't or can't buy organic foods due... Read More

Eliminate Sugar and Lose Weight

If you want to lose weight, there is one thing... Read More

The Benefits of Healthy Eating

These are questions we have to ask ourselves? because after... Read More

Just The Tea FAQs: Health Benefits (Part III)

The wonders of modern science continue to amaze us with... Read More

How to Pick a Trainer ?

Quick Overview- I think the most important thing for people... Read More

Face Check Up

Mirror, Mirror on the wall, who's the healthiest of them... Read More

Gift of Health

People want to get the very best they can when... Read More

Nutrition Is Not Common Sense

I'd like to explain an important concept that most online... Read More

Not All Protein is Created Equally

America's focus on nutritious eating began to receive national attention... Read More